The Schoolhouse Shop

Midwest Living Review

Kim Ranegar

Housed in the 1886 Furnessville schoolhouse, the Schoolhouse Shop is a collection of boutiques offering clothing, gifts and more.

The Schoolhouse Shop may have started as a two-room schoolhouse on a sand dune, but today, it is a great shopping destination -- a collection of stores within a store. From the entrance, we found the Seasonal Room filled with shiny Christmas ornaments and decorations. There are several rooms filled with gifts, such as pottery, hand-dipped candles and hand-blown glass, starting at $5. The Furnessville Gallery and Card room is a tribute to local subjects and artists, and you can spend as little at $2 on a greeting card to $2,000-plus on original art. Climb three steps to the Tree House Toy Room, watched over by a life-size stuffed Elmos ($195) surrounded by colorful books, stuffed animals and the kind of toys that don't require batteries. You'll also find Dunes Clothiers, filled with affordable fashion for men and women, from jeans to dressy wear as well as jewelry and bags. We found names like Pendleton alongside newcomers like Dream Sacks (bamboo clothing) and Coussard (gauze and cotton). The Magic Pantry offers goodies for foodies, including homemade salsa, vinegar and pesto, plus chefs' tools and textiles. We found sparkling stemware, tasty teas and the coolest hand-painted drink tureens -- perfect for tailgating ($144). Downstairs, Lake Effect Florals makes arrangements for delivery and baskets and bundles for cash and carry. Shoppers will find a small selection of antiques, including primitive wooden dippers ($28) and ornate cathedral candlesticks ($168). Enjoy a patio plate lunch outdoors during the summer, and catch the juried art fair the third weekend of September. The Schoolhouse Shop is open daily except Tuesdays.